The race for governor among Democrats started with many of the state's leading Democrats throwing their hats in the ring or considering doing so. Now, with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom dropping out, one lone candidate remains - Attorney General Jerry Brown.

How did Brown essentially win the Democratic primary without a proverbial shot being fired, that is, airing a television ad?

Most of the credit goes to Brown. It is no accident that he has gotten elected so often. He started the race as the front-runner and did an extremely effective job at consolidating that position: He raised money and spent little of it, thus gaining a huge cash advantage over any rival; he effectively used his position as attorney general to attract favorable media attention on relevant and popular issues of the day, such as taking on Wall Street banks; he did not make any major mistakes; and he did not engage his opponents so as to give them an opening. So what does this mean for Democrats?

Good news. The likelihood that Brown will run unopposed in the Democratic primary greatly improves Democrats' odds of winning back the governorship in what is now a solidly blue state. Brown can conserve his resources for the general election, in which he probably will need them to face a billionaire with essentially unlimited resources (either Meg Whitman or Steve Poizner).

More important, the Democrats can sit and watch the Republicans beat up each other in what will probably be a nasty and divisive primary fight among well-funded candidates who will spend millions of dollars attacking each other. This will leave the winner in a weaker position for the general election.

With Democrats' improved odds of winning at the top of the ticket assured as a result of Newsom's exit, every Democrat on the ballot is helped, including:

Furthermore, because new legislative and congressional district lines will be drawn over the next two years, the Democrats' likely strength in the Legislature and the governor's office puts them in position for continued dominance in California.

There is a downside to Brown running unopposed in the Democratic primary:

-- Democrats will not get a choice when it comes to selecting their nominee.

The best of democracy is when voters have a choice, so Democrats will be deprived of one in June. Fortunately for them, the likely nominee is an experienced, talented and popular candidate who can win in November.